Concord, N.H. ? Facing accusations that he protected priests who molested children, Bishop John McCormack has stepped down as head of the committee developing the Roman Catholic Church’s national response to the sex abuse crisis.

McCormack’s spokes-man, Patrick McGee, said Friday that the bishop would remain on the committee. He said the decision was prompted by a desire to focus on church work in New Hampshire, not by allegations of his involvement in the scandal.

McCormack has served as chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sex Abuse of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for two years. The panel has been asked to make recommendations that will help protect children and provide support to victims and their families.

McCormack is accused in Massachusetts lawsuits of knowing priests were abusing boys and failing to intervene, and of playing a role in shuffling offenders between parishes when he worked in the Boston Archdiocese.

He is being replaced on the panel by Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul and Minneapolis.